The words from the Red Bull advisor were harsh towards the young Italian, and Wolff’s response was equally strong. The stakes are high: the two points Norris gained with the final overtake could be decisive in Abu Dhabi for the Drivers’ Championship.
The harsh verdict from Toto Wolff
The Mercedes Team Principal fired back at Helmut Marko, who accused Antonelli in Qatar of letting Lando through intentionally to annoy Max Verstappen. “I am speechless just hearing what he said. We are fighting for second place in the championship, which is important for us,” Toto Wolff emphasized at the end of the Qatar Grand Prix in Lusail.
“Kimi was fighting for a potential third place. I mean, how brainless do you have to be to even say something like that? It annoys me because I am already frustrated by the race itself, the late-race mistake, and other errors. So hearing something so senseless leaves me completely stunned,” added the Mercedes team boss, speaking to the media, including GP-News.net.
The conversation with Lambiase
Toto Wolff also spoke with Max Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, after the race. “Everything is cleared up with Gianpiero Lambiase,” he said. “Obviously, you’re nervous in that moment because Max now needs Lando to finish fourth, not third, to win the championship. He told me he hadn’t seen the situation. Why would we have intervened? Why would we have tried to interfere in the Drivers’ Championship standings?” – the Mercedes team boss pointed out.
Toto Wolff reiterated that Kimi Antonelli lifted off the throttle too early, causing him to lose control of the car. That small mistake allowed Lando Norris to pass and take fourth place. The English driver gained two points that could prove crucial at the end of the Abu Dhabi race.
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